President Akufo-Addo cutting the tape to commission the newly constructed intensive care unit
President Akufo-Addo almost shed tears when he visited the nation’s premier health facility, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) yesterday.
He had gone there to commission the newly constructed intensive care unit (ICU) at the National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery & Burns Centre for the hospital, which was funded by Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) at a cost of $2 million.
But the president was shocked at the spectacle that greeted him.
Right opposite the building he was about to commission was the age-old maternity block, which was literally falling apart.
An obviously bemused Akufo-Addo admitted “I came here on a happy note, but it was a note which turned very sad when I sat down.”
“In sitting down, I saw the edifice in front of me which happens to be I believe the maternity block and I saw in it a sign of a tragic decay that has engulfed our country,” he revealed.
However, he said his spirit was uplifted by the fact that funding has been secured for a complete rehabilitation of both the maternity and the surgical blocks of the hospital.
The terms of the funding, according to him, was before the Minister of Finance and would be sent to Cabinet for consideration early next year for work to commence.
But even before the document would be presented to parliament, he emphasized that “I don’t need to assure you that the chair of the Cabinet, Mr. President, will readily add his voice of approval…”
As if not enough, the president has also offered to donate part of his November 2018 salary (GH¢25,000 out of GH¢ 290,000) to fund activities of the National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery & Burns Centre.
From there, he went to the Abossey Okai spare parts market, where he inspected road construction and held a meeting with spare parts dealers.
Even before he arrived at the venue for the meeting, the entire place was choked to capacity, with human and vehicular movement almost impossible.
He ended the day with the commissioning of one of the government’s promised multi-purpose AstroTurf mini stadium and community.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent